As governments move forward with digital identity initiatives and stricter compliance requirements, one challenge remains largely unsolved: how do you prove that someone was physically present at a specific place and time without sacrificing privacy?
The Hashgraph Group and Truesense think they have an answer.
The two companies announced that they have jointly filed a European patent application for what they call Continuous Identity Trust Infrastructure (CITI), a new framework designed to connect physical presence in the real world with decentralized digital identity credentials.
The patent application was filed with the European Patent Office in April and covers more than 44 European jurisdictions. There is also a separate filing process underway for the United States.
Bringing physical identity onchain
At its core, CITI strives to solve a growing problem for governments, corporations and regulated industries.
Digital identity systems can verify who someone is online. Access control systems can verify whether someone has entered a building. But it remains difficult to connect these two events in a secure, controllable and privacy-preserving way.
CITI combines three emerging technologies:
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Ultra-wideband (UWB) spatial sensing
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Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs)
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Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) cryptography
The system works by detecting the physical presence of a person at a specific location using ultra-wideband technology. That presence event is then cryptographically linked to the individual’s decentralized identity wallet and converted into a verifiable credential that can later be independently validated.
Rather than revealing personal information or location data, zero-knowledge proofs allow third parties to verify credentials without revealing sensitive details.
The result is a tamper-proof record that proves that a verified individual was physically present at a specific place and time.
Why Europe is moving towards a digital identity
The timing of the patent application is striking.
Across Europe, digital identity infrastructure is quickly becoming a regulatory priority.
The EU’s eIDAS 2.0 framework requires member states to start offering EU Digital Identity Wallets by the end of 2026, creating a standardized approach to digital identity across the bloc.
At the same time, regulations such as NIS2 increase cybersecurity and auditability requirements for companies operating in critical sectors.
The European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI), a pan-European initiative backed by the European Commission, also extends support for decentralized identity and verifiable frames of reference.
CITI seems designed to fit directly into that evolving ecosystem.
According to the companies, the framework is consistent with EBSI standards and supports W3C Decentralized Identifiers and Verifiable Credentials.
From stadiums to hospitals
Although digital identity often sounds abstract, the possible applications are surprisingly practical.
A stadium could verify that a ticket holder has physically entered a venue before issuing a digital ID of attendance.
A hospital could ensure that only authorized personnel with valid attendance credentials are allowed access to restricted areas.
Manufacturing facilities could create immutable audit trails that show who entered secure areas and when.
Financial institutions could tighten compliance requirements around physical verification while maintaining user privacy.
The companies argue that traditional access systems based on badges, passwords or QR codes are becoming increasingly vulnerable to sharing, duplication and fraud.
By linking access to a verified identity and confirmed physical presence, organizations can gain greater certainty without collecting additional personal data.
Hedera’s identity ambitions continue to expand
The announcement also highlights a broader trend emerging within the Hedera ecosystem.
While discussions about blockchain often focus on payments, tokenization, or decentralized finance, digital identity has quietly become one of the fastest growing areas of enterprise blockchain development.
The Hashgraph Group has spent the past few years building infrastructure around decentralized trust systems, while Truesense specializes in ultra-wideband detection technology and privacy-focused security solutions.
According to Stefan Deiss, CEO of The Hashgraph Group, the goal is to create infrastructure that bridges the physical and digital worlds while supporting Europe’s growing focus on digital sovereignty.
The two companies say the patent is the result of years of collaboration focused on identity systems for individuals, connected devices and autonomous agents.
Building the next layer of trust
As artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and digital identity become increasingly intertwined, verifying that a real person was physically present during a specific event may become as important as verifying their online identity.
That challenge extends far beyond access control.
Future applications could include digital credentials, transportation systems, smart cities, healthcare infrastructure, autonomous machine interactions, and compliance reporting.
Whether CITI ultimately becomes a widely accepted standard remains to be seen.
But the filing signals a growing recognition that the next generation of digital identity systems may require more than just proving who you are online.
They may also need to prove where you were without compromising privacy.